Chair mechanisms explained

All too often we advise our customers to go for a synchronomic mechanism on their operator chair, as it is the best mechanism by far, but invariably we find that the users of the office chair are not operating them as intended.

The design of the synchronous mechanism is such that the back rest of the office chair is intended to remain in the free floating position, with the tension spring adjusted so that the floating backrest just supports the user’s weight.

The idea behind this design is that the users back is supported, but not completely, and this support is able to move with the user as he or she moves around in the chair, whilst carrying out typical office tasks.

Whether the user is sitting bolt upright, typing on a keyboard, or leaning back, reading some literature, all the time the chair’s backrest is supporting the users back to a significant degree.

This method of support encourages good posture and prevents slouching in the chair, which is not ideal for prolonged periods of time.

The problem is that if the user is not familiar with this type of mechanism, the permanently floating support feels wrong, and very soon the user simply locks the backrest of the chair in his or her favoured position and leaves it like that.

So all of the benefits of the advanced ( and more expensive ) mechanism is wasted – they might as well have purchased a chair with a standard, adjustable backrest.As office furniture dealers, we always try to show as many of our customers as possible just how to use the type of chair they have purchased. Office chairs with height adjustable armrests, free- floating backrests, seat sliders and lumbar supports can greatly increase the overall comfort and feel of the office chair, but only if the user understands how to use them all.

In the same way as the most sophisticated Satellite navigation system is useless without the manual, these expensive office chairs, are deemed no more comfortable than a basic chair.

The prospective purchaser, not understanding the differences in office chair design and function, makes their choice based primarily on price, which is nearly always not the right thing to do.

So before you invest in new office chairs, please speak to someone who can advise you on the correct chair to buy, and who can show you the various mechanisms available, and teach you how to use them properly
All office furniture purchases should be regarded as an investment.
There are many reasons for this but one of them has to be for the maximum comfort and productivity of the staff, and their long terms well being.

After all even a relatively expensive chair with all the comfort bells and whistles may only work out to cost around a pound a week.

At what point do you decide that you need to spend less than this on your most important asset – your staff.